UPDATE: Missing 2-year-old boy out of Siletz Oregon

By on Monday, March 3rd, 2025 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

SILETZ, OREGON (Released by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office)-UPDATE: as of 6:00pm March 2, 2025.

On Saturday March 1, 2025, at about 4:25pm, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a missing 2-year-old male (Dane Paulsen) from his residence near Milepost 21 on HWY 229, north of Siletz, Oregon. A vehicle and an adult male, both of which were not known to the family, were noted near a bridge close to the residence approximately 30 minutes prior to the juvenile’s disappearance. Through a community tip, this vehicle and operator have since been located. Following further investigation, this subject and the vehicle are no longer a point of interest. We thank our community for sharing information and tips related to this investigation.

At the time of Dane’s disappearance, he was playing in the front yard of their residence and out of sight of his parents. Dane is friendly and fearless, and is comfortable around strangers and water, but cannot swim. Dane is known to love water and vehicles.

At this time, Dane is still missing. Investigators are following up on numerous leads, including investigating various leads provided by our community. We have multiple Search and Rescue Teams and Sheriff’s Posse, along with community volunteers, searching the area. Marine Teams and divers are searching the river. The Lincoln County Major Crime Team and the FBI are also assisting with investigative leads.

At this time, Dane’s disappearance does not meet the criteria to use the Amber Alert system. Our team will continue to share updates and information via FlashAlert and social media. There is no evidence at this time to suggest criminal actions are involved in this incident.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, including the enforcement division, Search and Rescue (SAR), and Mounted Posse, is being assisted by Oregon State Police, Lincoln City Police Department (PD), Newport PD, FBI, Siletz Valley Fire, Lane Co SO, Clackamas Co SO, Polk Co SO, Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, Mary’s Peak SAR, and Region 3 K9.

So far, 382 acres have been searched and 283 miles have been covered. The following resources have been deployed in the initial 24 hours of Dane’s disappearance:

– 88 Certified Search and Rescue Members

– 4 Watercraft

– 4 Divers

– 4 Drones

– 6 Human Trailing K9s

– 40 Investigators

– 138 Community Volunteers

Family resources are being provided by the FBI’s Victim Services Division.

How Can the Community Help:

Although our teams will continue to work through the evening, community members are not encouraged to continue their search until daylight tomorrow.

– Those that are interested in joining search efforts can go to the staging area and check in with the camp host at Elks Toketee Illahee campground at 20590 Siletz Hwy, Siletz, Oregon 97380.

– Continue to report information that is relevant to Dane’s disappearance or may bring him home to the tip line: 541-265-0669

Once again, we thank our community for their compassion and assistance. Our team and the community are working tirelessly to bring Dane home.

On March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:25 PM the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing 2-year-old child at a residence near milepost 21 on Siletz River Highway in Siletz, Oregon. Members of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Siletz Valley Fire, Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Lincoln City Police Department, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue responded to the scene. Emergency personnel immediately began searching the residential property and surrounding areas on foot and air with the assistance of aerial drones. The drones have cameras and thermal imaging equipment.

The child, Dane Paulsen, was last known to be playing in the yard of the residence at the time of his disappearance. He was wearing a grey fuzzy hoody with ears, blue and white shoes, and black pants. Dane has brown hair and green eyes.

The Sheriff’s Office has also listed a late 90’s gold colored station wagon as a vehicle of interest. A vehicle matching this description was seen in the area before Dane went missing. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who may have information relating to Dane’s disappearance or information relating to a vehicle matching this description to call our Tip Line at 541-265-0669 or our non-emergency dispatch at 541-265-0777.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge and thank the approximately 150 community members who responded and searched the surrounding area upon receiving information of Dane’s disappearance. The active search for Dane is ongoing.